take it in degrees. remember how the greenland paddle purchase was kind of surprising when you first started. it is deceptive when you start plowing a turn.
you can actually get a lot of purchase from about 3" of blade first starting out.
the more blade generally sharpens the turn and least tolerance for technique.
there are a lot of variables, lot of waterline from the cockpit to your forward reach limit.
Updating on this threadā¦
I spent a week down on Tybee Island with an instructional group back at the end of Nov. I started with my Greenland paddle, but got smashed out of my boat on the first morning by a surf wave. And then again, twice more. Turns out, I was bracing the wrong direction, so thereās that. Regardless, as mentioned earlier in this thread, I was just not getting the control out of the green stick that was required in the Tybee surf. Trying to horse my boat around in the heavy waves, I was really wearing myself out.
At the lunch break, my instructor handed me a very short and broad Werner Cyprus paddle, and then we went off to a forward stroke clinic. I felt very unstable with the shorter paddle and, coupled with my confidence hit from the morning swims, decided to switch to my Werner Kalliste with a sigh of relief.
Later that evening, I discussed my ongoing shoulder pain (deltoid muscle inflammation) with my instructor, and he stated unequivocally that my Kalliste was contributing to this. Itās very long (220) and the blades are also long, which is why he suggested a much shorter shaft and blades that day. He also insists Iām an āarm paddlerā, which boggles my mind, because I sure FEEL like Iām twisting my torso.
The next day I brought out my wiveās Werner Athena, which has a blade shape between the Kalliste and Cypress, but with a longer shaft than the one the instructor had offered. I could feel the better control in the waves due to the shorter blade, but with the longer shaft, I didnāt feel the same lack of control. I used the Athena throughout the week. There was no long-distance paddling in this event, just constant rough water training, so no shoulder issues either.
Now that Iām home and back to long constant paddling, Iām still getting the deltoid inflammation when I use a Euro blade. I think I have an actual injury, gotten when I tried to keep up with a speed demon paddler on a long tour this past fall. But interestingly, a couple weeks ago I did 12 miles with my Greenland stick without that pain. Iād like to continue using the Euro blade, for the authority and speed, but the pain is saying no. I may just have to change paddles depending on conditions.
BTW, I just ordered a P&H Aries. 
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